The technique where an obese client imagines sickness after a high-fat meal, followed by a pleasant scene where eating is desirable, is called?

• A. Flooding
• B. Implosive therapy
• C. Desensitization
• D. Covert sensitization

Answer: (D)

Covert sensitization is a form of aversion therapy that uses imagined consequences to create a negative association with an undesired behavior. In obesity treatment, the person vividly visualizes the act of eating a high-fat meal and then immediately imagines sickness or nausea resulting from that choice. That aversive imagined outcome aims to make the act of overeating feel unattractive, so the desire to engage in it diminishes over time. Sometimes this imagery is paired with a contrasting, positive scene to reinforce choosing not to eat in that way, all within the realm of imagination rather than real exposure. This focus on covert, imagined aversive pairing distinguishes it from methods like flooding or implosive therapy, which involve direct, real-time exposure to the stimulus, or desensitization, which uses gradual exposure alongside relaxation.